NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Defense and diplomacy were on full display when the United Nations secretary-general took to the soccer field in the first U.N. ' `` DiploMatch . ''

`` It is very hard at my age to play soccer , '' said the 64-year-old Ban Ki-moon .

Typically , a Saturday evening soccer game with mostly middle-aged men would n't garner much attention , unless an ambulance is required . But the recent match played between two modest teams of U.N. ambassadors and officials , along with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon , was certainly not typical .

The mood was competitive yet congenial as the dignitaries traded their suits for shorts and hit the soccer field at Chelsea Piers on a balmy New York evening April 25 .

`` Soccer is a sport that really can unite the people and generate enormous power and energy among people regardless of where you are coming from , '' Ban said . `` When you follow the balls , you just forget , and you become one team , and you become one nation . This is what we aim to achieve today . ''

There was , of course , an underlying purpose behind the motivation to hit the pitch : support for a new charitable organization dedicated to advancing peace through the global reach and unifying power of soccer -LRB- also called football -RRB- . Watch Ban Ki-moon mix it up with diplomats on soccer field ''

British U.N. Ambassador John Sawers summed up the rationale motivating the event . `` Soccer 's the great world game , and this is -LSB- the -RSB- United Nations , the great world organization , playing it for charity , so it 's a lot of fun . ''

`` Football for reconciliation '' is the driving purpose of Play31 , the organization behind the U.N. game . The group says the sport has the unique potential `` to bring people together , spread joy and to create healing in post-conflict societies . ''

Its mission statement further explains , `` By donating footballs and facilitating community gatherings , we contribute to the creation of peaceful societies where children can exercise their right to play . ''

Play31 and `` the right to play '' are derived from Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child . The 1989 summit sought to guarantee certain universal rights for children under 18 , including `` the right of the child to rest and leisure , to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts . ''

Jakob Lund , the 26-year-old founder and president of Play31 , was inspired to launch his program after spending time in Sierra Leone , a nation ravaged by 11 years of civil strife .

`` We use soccer as a facilitator for people meeting each other and for people simply just interacting ... and I think that is something true for football is that it can transcend borders , languages , races , everything that we see can normally divide people -- on the football field , it can unite them , and that 's what is so special . ''

Added the enthusiastic U.N. ambassador from Paraguay , Eladio Loizaga , who contributed two goals in the first half for his team : `` I mean , I did n't expect that ! Two goals ! I tried to put my best tonight for the children and for the event . ''

Radhika Coomaraswamy , special representative for children in armed conflict , said , `` there is really something to do with children that really brings the United Nations together . ''

Ban also emphasized the plight of children as an important priority on the U.N. agenda . `` This is a very small symbolic event , but though it may be small , this will , I hope , demonstrate our solidarity to those people , many young children , who are in war-torn countries , who really want some hope from the international community . I hope this will help . ''

But even with all the togetherness for a good cause , settling disputes on the pitch versus the halls of the United Nations had to have been a different experience for the ambassadors . Sawers explained , `` these guys I spend my days from Monday to Friday negotiating with , and we have fun on weekends , so this is us having fun . ''

Chile 's Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz , one of the team captains , elaborated . `` Getting out of the U.N. and of negotiations , and speeches ... is quite good . I think it should say something about humanity that we are not only diplomats , but we are also football players and poets and writers . ''

The other team was led by Ambassador Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein . Wenaweser was quite impressed with one particular participant , expressing how he thought the secretary-general 's performance was `` amazing . ''

`` He gave up his right to rest for this , and I think it 's amazing . And he played well ; he had good positioning , good defense . It was great , '' Wenaweser said .

Laughing , Ban responded to reactions about his defensive prowess . `` When the ball comes to me , then I have to defend my team , so that was very , very difficult . But I think I have defended well . ''

The 64 year-old secretary-general played nearly the entire game , mixing it up with fellow U.N. dignitaries .

`` It is very hard at my age to play soccer , '' Ban conceded . `` It 's very hard , but I feel very much a sense of full excitement and energy . ''

Ban 's dogged defense clearly made an impact . However , the secretary-general could n't resist his role as the world 's lead diplomat , even on the football field , and changed teams at halftime .

Diplomatically , the score was not recorded , although observers said Team Lichtenstein was the victor .

Ban played defense the entire time , except when he came off for a couple breathers . When he came off in the first half , the other team quickly scored three goals .

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U.N. dignitaries play soccer to support group that promotes peace

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The group Play31 advocates the power of sport to bring young people together

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon , ever the diplomat , changed teams at halftime

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The performance by Ban , 64 , was `` amazing , '' says one ambassador